Clean Power Plan: Rulemaking in Minnesota

On August 3, 2015, President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the finalized Clean Power Plan, a rule that will cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants—the single largest source of carbon pollution in the U.S.—by 32% from 2005 levels. The EPA’s rule sets state-specific carbon dioxide emission targets and requires each state to submit a detailed plan for meeting its target. States have flexibility in developing their plans and can consider conventional control strategies as well as renewable energy and energy-efficiency approaches to make the necessary reductions.

The MPCA is currently reviewing the EPA's rule and assessing potential pathways for compliance. Our state plan will need to consider current and new electricity production and pollution control policies in order to achieve necessary carbon pollution reductions while supporting reliable, affordable power for all Minnesotans. The MPCA is reaching out to stakeholders to assist our efforts and ensure the opportunity for public participation as we develop Minnesota’s compliance strategies. States will be required to submit a final plan, or an initial submittal with an extension request, in September 2016; final complete state plans to be submitted by September 2018.

Rulemaking

We anticipate that new state rules will be needed to implement Minnesota’s plan for compliance. To stay informed on any MPCA Clean Power Plan rulemaking development, sign up for email notices through GovDelivery.

Contact. For questions about the status of the MPCA’s rulemaking:
Katie Izzokatie.izzo@state.mn.us
651-757-2595

Early stakeholder outreach

The MPCA reached out to several stakeholders, including utility companies and environmental advocacy groups, in the process of forming our comments on the EPA proposal and eventually developing new rules for Minnesota’s compliance. Documents from these early discussions are below.